Most religions and cultures have their moments of becoming. These are the moments when an individual goes from childhood to maturity, moments of sacred initiation. The Bar Mitzvah is a symbolic way of ushering a child into the adult Jewish community, a way for the entire community to witness and accompany the young person on this journey.
The phrase “Bar Mitzvah” means “son of the commandments” (for a girl, the phrase “Bat Mitzvah” is used for “daughter of the commandments”). The term refers to the person and not the event, although the term is often used to describe the event as well. As Jewish children reach the age of 13, they are considered adults within the Jewish community and can enter the circle of public prayer. At that point they can be counted in the minyan, the group of ten adults that constitute a quorum and can participate in the privilege of reading from the Torah. At the service Sammy will, for the first time, help lead the prayers and read directly from the Torah. As Sammy participates in the service, the community acknowledges his adult status and, along with that, his increased responsibility toward his community and the world. As the blessings and prayers are recited, Sammy reaffirms his commitment to fulfilling mitzvot (commandments or good deeds) and promises to accept responsibility for his actions.
Sammy has prepared for this day in many ways, starting with Jewish learning at home, celebrations and traditions with his relatives, and community gatherings. He has attended Hebrew School for several years learning Jewish traditions, culture, ethics, prayers, and how to read and write Hebrew. Over the past year, Tehila Wise has worked as Sammy's Bar Mitzvah tutor, working to reinforce his Hebrew School lessons, explore the meaning of his Torah portion, and teaching him trope, the chant used when reading the Torah and Haftarah. Over the past several months, he has worked almost nightly preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.
The phrase “Bar Mitzvah” means “son of the commandments” (for a girl, the phrase “Bat Mitzvah” is used for “daughter of the commandments”). The term refers to the person and not the event, although the term is often used to describe the event as well. As Jewish children reach the age of 13, they are considered adults within the Jewish community and can enter the circle of public prayer. At that point they can be counted in the minyan, the group of ten adults that constitute a quorum and can participate in the privilege of reading from the Torah. At the service Sammy will, for the first time, help lead the prayers and read directly from the Torah. As Sammy participates in the service, the community acknowledges his adult status and, along with that, his increased responsibility toward his community and the world. As the blessings and prayers are recited, Sammy reaffirms his commitment to fulfilling mitzvot (commandments or good deeds) and promises to accept responsibility for his actions.
Sammy has prepared for this day in many ways, starting with Jewish learning at home, celebrations and traditions with his relatives, and community gatherings. He has attended Hebrew School for several years learning Jewish traditions, culture, ethics, prayers, and how to read and write Hebrew. Over the past year, Tehila Wise has worked as Sammy's Bar Mitzvah tutor, working to reinforce his Hebrew School lessons, explore the meaning of his Torah portion, and teaching him trope, the chant used when reading the Torah and Haftarah. Over the past several months, he has worked almost nightly preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.